Although I have been remiss in posting to my Vox blog, I did list it with services such as Ning and Twitter. When I saw that Vox was closing, it couldn’t have been easier to move over to WP! Perhaps this is the new inspiration that I need to begin sharing some professional thoughts again. For example, our 2000 person high school will implement a 1:1 laptop program in just a few short weeks. I will happily share here, documents and policies that we create as we forge ahead with this ambitious and exciting undertaking. Thank you WordPress for making the transition so simple!

OELMA (Ohio School Library Media Association), the state professional organization for Ohio School librarians, successfully lobbied Ohio lawmakers to include language in a hotly debated budget bill that included funding for a professional librarian in schools across the state. That legislators recognized the importance of the "professional factor" to success in acquiring and effectively using 21st Century technologies and skills, is both heartening and inspired.

Initially, Ohio House Bill One called for funding for "media services and technical equipment". OELMA leadership suggested that the "media services factor" be reworded to "licensed librarian and media specialist factor." Presentations were made throughout the state about this effort, a wiki with talking points was developed and shared, and the push was on. As the budget was worked and re-worked, OELMA representatives monitored the bills' progress and informed membership regularly. The impact of the countries' economic crisis forced cuts and tough decisions about essential services across Ohio. In the end the language that included the "human factor" was adopted!

This is more than excellent for Ohio's students! School librarians across the state, are uniquely positioned to show leadership and give instruction about finding and critically evaluating web resources and technologies, creating and maintaining a positive "digital footprint," and being a productive, responsible, digital citizen. Thank you to OELMA and the thoughtful Ohio legislators who made this a possibility for all of Ohio's students.

After two years of planning we are off and running with the Apple Macbook 1:1 initiiative in the CHUH school district. This was a beautiful thing. Last week all 8th grade students at Monticello got their machines and this week all seventh graders. Next week it's the sixth grades turn and then we move on to the two other middle schools.It is gratifying to walk through the halls and observe classrooms of kids engaged in the screens of these very slick machines. After week one, the wireless is carrying the weight of the constant traffic, and planned lessons are being implemented. Students are respecting the rules established around care and transportation of the computers throughout the building – (that is bag over two shoulders, in the case port side down). The most exciting part of all this though, and I keep forgetting that it is possible, is that now students no longer have to wait for a spot in the schedule in the lab to open up to work on a project or homework. They are able every night, to open up Garage Band or Pages, or their interactive textbook, and interact, learn and CREATE!. There is much to do down the road with regard to teacher professional development, parent education, and student orientation to sites of educational value, but the prospects and promise make this a very enticing and exciting journey.